Distributer for ignition systems.



Patented June 5, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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W. W. DEAN.

DISTRIBUTER FOR IGNITION SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, I9I6.

Patented June 5, 1917.

2 SHEETS4SHEET 2.

unrrnn STATES PATENT onnion.

WILLIAM WARREN DEAN, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO SPLITDORF ELECTRICAL COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

DISTRIBUTER FOR IGNITION SYSTEMS.

Application filed September 25, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM WARREN DEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Distributors for Ignition Systems, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in distributors for ignition devices or systems and more particularly to a distributer for high tension currents.

The invention is particularly useful in.

distributing in a simple and efiicient manner high tension current to a plurality of high tension devices, such as the spark plugs of an internal combustion engine.

An object of the invention is to provide a distributor having a plurality of terminals,

each of which is adapted to be connected with a translating device or spark plug and also a plurality of spaced contacts which are associated with each terminal, together with means for connecting each terminal in sucnal and its associated contacts in succession to connect said terminal in series through the associated contacts with the high tension current.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view partly in section showing my improved distributer as attached to a magneto as a source of current supply;

Fig. 2 is a front View of the distributor with the cap plate removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through a distributer having a slightly modified form of arrangement of the contacts and brushes;

Fig. at is a sectional view through a por- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, 1917.

Serial No. 122,142.

tion of the distributor having a still further modified form of arrangement of contacts and brushes.

In the present embodiment of the invention, I have shown my improved distributer as applied to a magneto which may be of any desired type. The type illustrated is that of the well known Dixie construction. The magneto is indicated at 1 in the drawings and has a generating coil indicated at 2 which is provided with a high tension terminal 3 adapted to make contact with a spring pressed pin 4 in the contact stem or trunk conductor 5. This trunk conductor 5 is mounted in a rotating part 6 which is formed of insulating material. Extending about the rotating part 6 is a casing or shell 7 which is likewise formed of insulating material.

The framework 8 of the magneto is formed with a housing for an operating gear 9 which drives the rotating part of the distributer. The gear 9 is in mesh with a driving gear 10 on the operating shaft 11 of the magneto and the shaft 11 of the magneto is driven from the engine shaft when the magneto is used in connection with an internal combustion engine. The rotating part 6 is secured in any suitable way to the gear 9 and rotates therewith. Said gear 9 is mounted on ball bearings 12, which in turn, are supported by a sleeve 13 carried by the framework of the magneto. The rotating part 6 has a projecting cylindrical part 14 which extends through the sleeve 13 into the magneto. The spring pressed pin 4: in the trunk conductor bears against the high tension terminal 3 of the secondary coil of the magneto.

The casing or shell 7 is provided with a series of terminal contacts 17 each of which is provided with a cable connection at the end of the casing or shell 7. The distributer shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings is adapted to furnish ignition to a twelve cylinder engine and, therefore, there are twelve cable connections indicated at 17, 17 17", 17, 17 17 17, 17 17*, 17, 17 and 17. Associated with each contact or terminal 17 is a series of contacts which are embedded in the inner face of the casing or shell 7.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have shown the contacts 18 and 19 which are associated with the terminal 17. I have also shown the terminals 17, 17 17 and 17 and con tacts which are associated with each terminal contact and which are indicated respectively at 18, 19, 19, 19, 18 and 19 and 18 and 19. It will be understood that these terminals and contacts are arranged in circular rows, spaced from each other and dis connected. The contacts associated with each terminal are also arranged in a line with the terminal and in a line parallel with the center line of the casing or shell and also the axis of rotation of the rotating part.

The rotating part, as herein shown, is in the form of a segment of a cylinder and is provided with one line of brushes. The brush 20 is arranged on the rotating part so as to make engagement with the terminal 17 and the contact 18. This brush is spring pressed so as to be yieldingly forced outwardly, its outward movement being limited in any suitable way, the essential feature being to retain the brush in proper engagement with the contacts. The contacts may project slightly from the inner surface of the casing or shell so that the brush does not rub against the casing or shell when passing from one contactto another.

There is a similar brush 21 also mounted on the rotating part 6 which makes engagement with the contacts 17 and 18. There is also a third brush 22 mounted on the rotating part 6 which makes engagement with the contact 19 only. This brush is electrically connected to the trunk conductor 5. These brushes 21 and 22 are yieldingly mounted, similar to the brush 20. The brushes 20, 21 and 22 are arranged in a line parallel with the axis or the rotating part 6 and as these parts rotate the brushes will make engagement with the terminals one after the other and connect these terrninals through the contacts associated. therewith in series with the trunk conductor 5 and thus establish a connection between the source of current and the translating device or spark plug.

It will be noted that when the brushes move off from engagement with the terminal and the contacts associated therewith, the circuit will be broken in five distinct places; between the brush 20 and the terminal 17; the brush 20 and the contact 18; the brush 21 and the contact 18; the brush 21 and the contact 19 and the brush 22 and the contact 19. When the brush 20 is moved, for example, one sixteenth of an inch away from the terminal 17, the length of the break in the circuit will be multiplied by five or be five sixteenths of an inch.

\Vhile I have chosen an arrangement of contacts whereby there are five breaks in the circuit, when said circuit is broken, it will be understood that the arrangement may be cially adapted for use in connection with a twelve cylinder gas engine. By having this series of gaps between the terminal and the source of current I am able to place all twelve terminals or cable connections for the spark plugs in a. circle of three inches in diameter or less without danger from short circuits.

It will be understood that the distributer may be used for engines having a different number of cylinders and that the contacts may be arranged in other ways than that herein shown and described, the essential features being the connecting of the terminal to the source of current through a plu rality of contacts in series so that the circuit when broken is broken in a plurality of places and the length of the gap thus multiplied.

1 have shown the casing 7 as closed by a cap plate 23 of suitable insulating material which may be held thereon in any suitable way. When this plate is removed the rotating part with the brushes making engagement with the contacts is open for inspection without stopping the rotation of the distributer.

If my improved distributer is used in connection with a magneto having a rotor which gives four maximum peaks in the current or E. M. F. for each rotation of the magneto shaft, then the magneto shaft is preferably geared to the engine shaft so as to rotate at a speed of one and one-half times that of the engine shaft, thus creating SlX maximum peaks in the current or E. M. F. for each rotation of the engine shaft. The gear connection between the distributor and the magneto shaft is such that-the rotating part of the distributor makes one rotation to every two rotations of the engine shaft and it will, therefore, make one rotation for every three rotations of the magneto shaft.

As above noted, the arrangement of the contacts may be slightly varied and in Fig. 3 of the drawings, I have shown a modification in the construction of the contacts and the brushes. The terminal 17 and the cable connections therefor are the same as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. In place of the contacts 18 and 19, I have used separate contacts 24$ and 24? which are connected together, also contacts 25" and 25 which are connected together. There is a brush 26 which makes engagement with. the terminal 17 and a companion brush 2G which makes engagement with the contact 24. There is a brush 27 which makes engagement with the contact 249 and a companion brush 27* connected thereto which makes engagement with the contact 25: The brush 22 is the same as shown in Fig. 1 and is connected to the trunk conductor.

The brushes carried by the rotating part are of cylindrical construction and are yieldingly mounted and their' extent of outward movement is limited in any suitable way so that the brushes will engage the contacts on the stationary part. As the rotating part (3 rotates these brushes will make engagement with the terminals successively and the contacts associated therewith thus connecting the terminals one after another with the source of current. WVhen the brushes move out of engagement with the terminal and the contacts associated therewith, the circuit will be broken ina plurality of places, as above described.

In Fig. at of the drawings, I have shown a still further modification of the invention in which the rotor merely carries the brushes which make engagement with the various contacts. The casing 7 is of a similar construction to that described above, havingterminals 17 and cable connections therefor and also contacts 28, 29 and 30. The contacts 28 and 29 are connected together. It will be understood, however, that the contacts in the circular row containing the contact 28 are separate from each other and are in no way connected. Likewise the contacts in the circular row 29. There is a third row 30 which are all connected together and these contacts are adapted to be connected to a source of current supply. The rotor carries a brush 31 which is adapted to engage one after another of the terminals 17 It also carries a brush 32 which engages one after another the contacts 28. The. rotor carries a brush 33 which makes engagement one after another with the contacts 29 and also carries a brush 34 which makes engagement one after another with the contacts 30. The brushes 33 and 34 are yieldingly mounted in any suitable way and are connected together. Likewise the brushes 31 and 32 are yieldingly mounted and connected together.

lVhen the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4, it will be noted that the terminal 17 is connected with the brush 31 and through the brush 32 is connected with the contact 28 and through the contact 29 is connected with the brush 33 and through the brush 33 is connected with the contact 30 and thus with the source of current. When, however, the rotating part turns to carry the brushes out of engagement with the terminal and its associated contacts, the circuit will be broken in this instance, in four places, thus multiplying by four the length of the gap formed between the brush 31 and the terminal 17.

It will be obvious that further changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A distributer for ignition systems in cluding in combination a stationary part, a plurality of terminals carried by said part, each of which is adapted to be connected to a translating device, a plurality of spaced contacts associated with each terminal and means for connecting each terminal in succession through said contacts in series with a current supply.

2. A distributer for ignition systems including in combination a stationary part, a plurality of terminals carried by said part, each of which is adapted to be connected to a translating device, a plurality of spaced contacts associated with each terminal, a rotating part, devices carried by said rotating part for connecting each terminal in succession through said, contacts in series on the stationary part with a current supply.

3. A distributer for ignition systems including in combination a stationary part, a plurality of terminals carried thereby, each of which is adapted to be connected to a translating device, a plurality of spaced contacts associated with each terminal, a rotating part located within said stationary part, brushes carried by said rotating part and arranged so as to connect each terminal in succession through said contacts in series with a current supply.

4. A distributer for ignition systems including a stationary casing, a rotating part located within the casing, a plurality of terminals located in a circular row on the inner face of said casing, each of which is adapted to be connected to a translating device, a plurality of spaced contacts associated with each terminal and disposed in a line substantially parallel with the axis of the rotating part and means carried by the rotating part for connecting each terminal in succession to said contacts in series with the current supply.

5. A distributer for ignition systems including a stationary casing, a rotating part located within the casing, a plurality of terminals located in a circular row on the inner face of said casing, each of which is adapted to be connected to a translating device, a plurality of spaced contacts associated with each terminal and disposed in a line substantially parallel with the axis of the rotating part, a series of brushes arranged in a line parallel with the lines of contacts and'adapted to simultaneously connect each terminal in succession with the contacts associated therewith in series to the current supply.

6. A distributer for ignition systems in cluding in combination a fixed casing, a

plurality of terminals arranged in a circular row embedded in the inner face of said casing, each of said terminals being adapted to be connected to a translating device, a plurality of spaced -contacts associated with each terminal, said contacts being embedded in the inner face of said casing and located in a line parallel with the center of the casing, a rotating part mounted to rotate with the center of the casing as an axis, a plurality of yielding brushes carried by said rotating part, said brushes being arranged in a line parallel with the axis of the rotating part and adapted to simultaneously connect a terminal with the contacts associated therewith whereby said terminal and said contacts will be connected in series with a current supply.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM WARREN DEAN. Witnesses:

W. S. SAUNDERS, A. L. SHAW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

